Local athlete to receive honor Friday

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 8:54 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

Two-sport college athlete Jamal Nixon is preparing to accept a big award on Friday.

Nixon, a former Ellender High product who plays college football and basketball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, will receive an award for being named the Little Rock Touchdown Club's most valuable player for the 2012 season.

Nixon will be honored at the club's awards banquet Friday in West Little Rock, Ark.

The junior receiver finished 2012 with 59 receptions for 771 yards and five touchdowns. His yards ranked second in the Great American Conference, 77.1 yards per game ranked third and 5.9 receptions ranked fourth.

Through his two years at UAM, Nixon has totaled 89 receptions for 1,227 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 4.2 receptions and 58.4 yards per game through 21 games.

Nixon said it is an honor to be recognized for his football accomplishments. Honorees from all 11 football-playing colleges and universities from Arkansas, in addition to the top high school players and coaches from each classification will be recognized at the banquet.

"It's a tremendous feeling to be honored into the Little Rock Touchdown Club," he said. "It's a blessing that all of my hardwork is paying off in a great way. To be named MVP in such a big state who is real big on football is great. It's just showing that anything is possible if you work hard at it and believe. I greatly appreciate the support my hometown is showing me. I'm just a young man from a small town trying to make a dream come true."

Nixon is also a regular contributor on the Boll Weevils' basketball team, averaging 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 steals per game. He grabbed four rebounds in a 60-52 win over Henderson State on Jan 26.

Arkansas-Monticello will play Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 7:30 tonight.

-- LSU men's basketball player Shavon Coleman, a Thibodaux High product, had eight points and four rebounds in a 75-70 loss at Kentucky on Jan. 26. He added nine points and four rebounds in a 73-70 win over Missouri on Wednesday. LSU (11-7, 2-5 in SEC) men will travel to play Mississippi State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports Net.

-- McNeese State women's player Alaina Verdin, a former Terrebonne High standout, scored 13 points with three rebounds in a 72-71 win over Oral Roberts on Jan. 26. The Lady Cowgirls (11-9, 6-3 in SLC) host Northwestern State at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

-- Louisiana-Lafayette women's basketball player Jasmin Mills had six points and seven rebounds in a 64-46 loss to North Texas on Wednesday.

The Lady Cajuns will travel to Troy at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

-- Spring Hill College freshman Leah Washington, from Vandebilt, had eight points with five rebounds in a 92-82 loss to Faulkner University on Jan. 26. Spring Hill (9-12) plays the University of Mobile at 5:30 tonight.

-- Turtle Mountain Community College's Joseph Thompson, a South Terrebonne product, scored 11 points in a 93-64 loss to United Tribes College on Tuesday. Turtle Mountain (11-8) will play at Crossroads College on Friday and Saturday.

<p>Two-sport college athlete Jamal Nixon is preparing to accept a big award on Friday.</p><p>Nixon, a former Ellender High product who plays college football and basketball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, will receive an award for being named the Little Rock Touchdown Club's most valuable player for the 2012 season.</p><p>Nixon will be honored at the club's awards banquet Friday in West Little Rock, Ark. </p><p>The junior receiver finished 2012 with 59 receptions for 771 yards and five touchdowns. His yards ranked second in the Great American Conference, 77.1 yards per game ranked third and 5.9 receptions ranked fourth. </p><p>Through his two years at UAM, Nixon has totaled 89 receptions for 1,227 yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 4.2 receptions and 58.4 yards per game through 21 games.</p><p>Nixon said it is an honor to be recognized for his football accomplishments. Honorees from all 11 football-playing colleges and universities from Arkansas, in addition to the top high school players and coaches from each classification will be recognized at the banquet.</p><p>"It's a tremendous feeling to be honored into the Little Rock Touchdown Club," he said. "It's a blessing that all of my hardwork is paying off in a great way. To be named MVP in such a big state who is real big on football is great. It's just showing that anything is possible if you work hard at it and believe. I greatly appreciate the support my hometown is showing me. I'm just a young man from a small town trying to make a dream come true."</p><p>Nixon is also a regular contributor on the Boll Weevils' basketball team, averaging 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 steals per game. He grabbed four rebounds in a 60-52 win over Henderson State on Jan 26.</p><p>Arkansas-Monticello will play Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 7:30 tonight. </p><p>Here's a look how other local college products did in recent games. </p><p>-- LSU women's basketball player Theresa Plaisance, a former Vandebilt Catholic standout, scored 19 points with eight rebounds Jan. 27 in a 73-60 loss to Kentucky. The Lady Tigers (12-8 overall, 3-4 in SEC) will travel to Auburn at 6 tonight.</p><p>-- LSU men's basketball player Shavon Coleman, a Thibodaux High product, had eight points and four rebounds in a 75-70 loss at Kentucky on Jan. 26. He added nine points and four rebounds in a 73-70 win over Missouri on Wednesday. LSU (11-7, 2-5 in SEC) men will travel to play Mississippi State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports Net.</p><p>-- McNeese State women's player Alaina Verdin, a former Terrebonne High standout, scored 13 points with three rebounds in a 72-71 win over Oral Roberts on Jan. 26. The Lady Cowgirls (11-9, 6-3 in SLC) host Northwestern State at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. </p><p>-- Louisiana-Lafayette women's basketball player Jasmin Mills had six points and seven rebounds in a 64-46 loss to North Texas on Wednesday.</p><p>The Lady Cajuns will travel to Troy at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>-- Spring Hill College freshman Leah Washington, from Vandebilt, had eight points with five rebounds in a 92-82 loss to Faulkner University on Jan. 26. Spring Hill (9-12) plays the University of Mobile at 5:30 tonight.</p><p>-- Turtle Mountain Community College's Joseph Thompson, a South Terrebonne product, scored 11 points in a 93-64 loss to United Tribes College on Tuesday. Turtle Mountain (11-8) will play at Crossroads College on Friday and Saturday.</p>